Indiana State Police leader says he would legalize marijuana and tax it

1:56 PM,
Nov. 28, 2012

A marijuana grower shows plants he is growing with some friends in Montevideo, Uruguay,Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012. Uruguayans used to call their country the Switzerland of Latin America, but its faded grey capital seems a bit more like Amsterdam now that its congress has legalized abortion and is drawing up plans to sell government-grown marijuana.

Written by

Chris Sikich
Indianapolis Star

Paul Whitesell, superintendent of the Indiana State Police, learned that Tuesday after he told the State Budget Committee: "If it were up to me, I do believe I would legalize it and tax it."

Later in the day, after news of his comments spread, the Indiana State Police issued a written statement clarifying the words of the agency's leader. The statement described Whitesell's comments as a "philosophical" opinion, not an official one. ...